" There were forty members of the football team working out, and the football coach was present.

How organized was this work-out? How many days of the week did it go on? What would happen if student who wants to play football in the fall didn't show up for spring conditioning?

Is NSAA going to investigate what happen at Pius? "

" If a kid didn't want to participate in the voluntary workout then come football season they would be sitting on the bench. It happens at most schools statewide. The NSAA can't even hire competent basketball officials you think they can handle this? "

" This was nobody's fault. All schools have voluntary conditioning workouts for athletes. Let's not try to place the blame on anyone/anything. This was tragic,but we should not question God's will. "

" I'm not questioning "God's will" relating to the health of the student.

The questioning is directed at the training program in place. NSAA rules state that high schools can not hold football practices or manditory conditioning for football players out of season - period.

The issue is brought to light because an athlete died. Even if no one was sick or injured - the question still begs to be answered - was this training in compliance with NSAA rules.

The orginal LJS article said there were forty football players working out, and have been working out for weeks or months. "

" Is pushing yourself to the point of breaking just for a useless, competitive sport 'God's will'? I would tend to not think so. Does your God want you to kill yourselves for athletic glory?
"

" The coach feels horrible enough, the players feel horrible. This is a wonderful coach who loves these kids and this school. Something happened tragic with this child. My prayers as well as all our communities prayers should be focused with this family and school for the loss of John. Not questioning if someone did something wrong,somehow! "

" You describe what happen as tragic. Yes, I agree.

However, I desire to see an open and all encompassing discovery of what made this event tragic.

How many hours are spent in weight rooms? On the track? How many days this summer will the football team spend at the school? How many camps will the team attend?

What's are your basketball teams doing? The volleyball team?

It's all done with good intentions, right? And the Principal is exercising control over his/her staff? "

" Where's your heart "Why"!? To automatically begin the blame game at a horrible time like this when a family and huge, caring community are hurting and trying to understand a very sad situation. Please put your energies to better use by praying for the long road ahead for this family. "

" How about we refrain from insinuiating that excessive exercising or conditioning had anything to do with his death until the autopsy concludes this was the case? Everyone involved is grieving- why add to their grief with placing blame where none is due? "

" Blame?

I have not directed blame at anyone, I have asked relevant questions.

How do we handle this situation, ignore it? Dedicate a season? Sew a patch on a jersy? Dedicate a room in NSAAs new building?

A death in the community is a public matter. It is always reviewed and discuss. "

" Why: Give it a rest. You don't know the situation that happened, and you are trying to insinuate that this happened as a result of Pius coaches and staff pushing the players too hard to be successful. Tim Aylward isn't Bear freaking Bryant He is probably one of the best coaches in the history of Lincoln H.S. athletics. He is the farthest thing possible from a win-at-all-cost coach. Let it go. Pius wasn't doing anything outside the rules, or anything any other H.S. isn't doing. Only forty kids were participating, hardly the whole team meaning it wasn't mandatory. Further, this was a freak occurance. For some reason this kid's ticker gave out, not because he was pushed to the breaking point. He wasn't even a big kid, nor was it hot out. This stuff just happens sometimes and for you to implicate the entire philosophy of Pius athletics shows your lack of education, understanding, compassion, empathy, knowledge, ability to think critically...should I go on? "

" Hey "why" the conditioning isnt mandatory. There is about 40 other kids that dont do it because of other sports or because they dont wanna get better. We do this specifically to help ourselves become better athletes and football players. No one made him do this. And if you would have been there like I was and a heck of alot of other people were, you would not be tryin to pin this on the coaches or the athletic department of our school... He was hard working and was in the weightroom all the time just like the other 50 kids that were at the conditioning that day. It was just some freak accident noone knows why so just drop it and let us grieve without you making it any worse. "

" What is "the entire philosophy of Pius athletics"?

Yes, this unfortunate situation could have happened in a gym class, or at home while mowing the grass, or at an LPS, but it didn't.

A race horse breaks down at the Kentucky Derby and the jockey, track staff, and industry is questioned and reviewed extensively.

This unfortunate event, and your friend, deserves at least the same level of questioning and review of the circumstances surrounding the program that he was involved in.

I am sorry if that hurts your feelings, someday you will understand. "

" To Why: The student's death is being questioned. An autopsy is being done on him. Off season sports conditioning is done by several high schools in the area & they are closely monitored by the school's staff, coaches & parents. I've yet to see an instance where the conditioning is being forced. Is it strongly suggested? Yes. However, I don't think it's forced. Doing off season workouts is a great way for the kids to keep in shape; to be with their teammates; strengthen the team bond & just a healthy way to spend time. I'd rather my children be hanging out in the school's weight room or running at the track than doing other activities. Parents are told at preseason sports meetings what the player can & can't do. If the player, family & coach violate these rules, then they deserve the consequences. However, this is a very tragic & unfortunate circumstance. The parents, school & other people who knew John are going through a very tragic time. I just don't think that this is the time for them to worry about NSAA violations or not. Let them grieve in peace & let the controversy & questions be handled in another forum. "

" My son plays Pius football. I appreciate that coaches are there to support and supervise the kids'efforts while they are trying to stay in shape after the season ends. I don't feel that there is pressure from the them to attend the conditioning, and it isn't implied that it's mandatory. My son also has a job, and if he doesn't go to conditioning because of work, homework or other activities, he's not "in trouble". Mandatory workouts and practices don't start until late summer, just before school starts.

These kids put more pressure on themselves to improve and do their best. It doesn't come from the coaching staff - it's internal. These kids are going through a lot of emotional realizations likely for the first time in their young lives. God bless the teammates, coaching staff, classmates and family of this young man. "